Driving the 2015 Ford Expedition, the turbo family truckster

Cars evolve at a healthy pace in the modern era, but that's not the case with full-size SUVs. These house-sized behemoths change shape more slowly than an Icelandic glacier, sticking around for a decade or more with the most minor of alterations. So long as the bones are solid, the seats are plentiful, and the power keeps flowing, large families, livery businesses, and weekend warriors keep coming in for ‘em and don’t really miss the latest dashboard gadget.

Eventually every truck needs a nip ‘n tuck, and General Motors really threw down the gauntlet this year with the impressive, all-new 2015 Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. And so Ford has a response: the 2015 Ford Expedition, which was refreshed inside and out, and reinvigorated under the hood by ditching its wheezy old V-8 in favor of turbocharged V-6 power. And we just got our first chance to drive Ford’s big new baby at a press program in the scenic Appalachian mountains of West Virginia.

The three-row Expedition has been with us in much the same form since its last redesign in 2007. And unlike GM's all-new design, Ford has reused the basic chassis, with most of the visible changes limited to the new front end with more articulated headlamp innards, understated three-bar grille and newly available HID headlamps and LED fog lights. A lineup of new wheel designs — including a sweet set of 22-inchers—as well as a redesigned tailgate bisected by a horizontal chrome bar and a new chrome tailpipe round out the other exterior changes. The visual changes don’t go far to modernize the look; then again, this is a segment that doesn't reward rocking the boat (or in this case, road yachts). We’re going to have to wait a few more years for that.

The Expedition’s interior also doesn’t break much new ground. While the instrument cluster, steering wheel and center stack are all new to the Expedition, much of it will be familiar if you’ve driven a well optioned F-150.

More noteworthy are the additions a new, price-leading XL model to the previous XLT, Limited, and King Ranch trim levels, as well as a range-topping Platinum trim that adds sophisticated elegance to the cabin in the same way the King Ranch pours on the cowboy kitsch. In addition to the Sync/MyFord Touch features, Ford has layered in more technology for 2015, including keyless access and engine starting, a rearview camera, a blind-spot monitor, seven different ambient lighting colors, a Sony sound system with 700 watts, and Ford’s handy “truck apps” that facilitate towing, off-roading, and more.